Correspondence concerning the Jacobite Rebellion 1715 : despatches from Viscount Townshend and Earl Stanhope to the Duke of Argyll

This material is held atUniversity of Leeds Special Collections

Reference
- GB 206 Brotherton Collection MS Misc. Letters 1 Jacobite 1715
Dates of Creation
- 1715-1716
Name of Creator
- Townshend, Charles Townshend, Viscount, 1674-1738
Language of Material
- English
Physical Description
- 1 vol. ([ii], 84 ff.) folio manuscript. Finely-bound in new full red morocco with gilt and patterned tooling on both outside covers, together with the decorated crest of his Majesty George I bearing the letters G.R. on the front cover, and with compartments and gilt and patterned tooling on the spine bearing the gilt lettering: JACOBITE REBELLION 1715 OFFICIAL DESPATCHES TO THE DUKE OF ARGYLL 1715-16.

Scope and Content

Comprises 35 letters, apparently the only surviving original official record of the despatches from Charles, 2nd Viscount Townshend and Mr Secretary Stanhope (afterwards James, 1st Earl Stanhope) to the Duke of Argyll, while he was commanding the troops in Scotland and employed in the suppression of the Jacobite Rebellion under the Earl of Mar. It gives evidence of what was actually transpiring at home and abroad in connection with the Jacobites, whilst the fortunes of England hung in the balance immediately following the accession to the throne of George I.

Administrative / Biographical History

Charles Viscount Townshend (1674-1738) was Secretary for the Northern department, the seat of the Jacobite trouble. James 1st Earl Stanhope (1673-1721) was a statesman who also took a leading part in securing the Hanoverian succession. John Erskine, 6th or 11th Earl of Mar (1675-1732) was a Jacobite leader. John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll (1680-1743) was his military opponent loyal to the English crown. For fuller details of the lives and achievements of all these men see the Dictionary of National Biography.